Coronavirus Chronicle in Moldova: Vaccination, Anti-Records and Gloomy Forecasts

Marina DRAGALIN This week Moldova finally launched the COVID-19 vaccination process. However, it could not be avoided a sharp deterioration in the epidemiological situation. A new anti-record for daily number of infection cases has been set, the number of patients in serious condition and mortality rates are constantly increasing. Against the backdrop of experts’ gloomy forecasts, the authorities are considering introducing another lockdown To date, 116 million people have been COVID-19 positively tested; out of them almost 2.6 million have died. The period of progressive decline in the number of new COVID-19 cases in the world, which began in January, is over. Changes in the incidence curve are primarily associated with the spread of the British strain in Europe. In particular, Catherine Smallwood, the European Bureau of the World Health Organization representative said the following: “We are monitoring the percentage of strains of interest to us among all infections, and we have seen, especially in Western and Central Europe, that over time the percentage of B.1.1.7 continues spreading. And as it spreads, the epidemic curve changes. " According to WHO, the British strain has already been found in 43 European countries, the South African strain got detected within 26 countries and the Brazilian strain in 15 countries. “In early February, Central and Eastern Europe showed the first signs of an increase in morbidity, just as the Balkans did. The fire didn't black out. Four of the ten countries with the most COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours are situated in the European Region. The fact that Europe is the second most affected region in the world should motivate us to continue complying with necessary measures to stop the virus transmission, ” Hans Kluge, the head of the European department of the World Health Organization, said. It is no surprise that the prospects for easing restrictions across Europe are still very distant. Especially, in light of a new Nigerian strain of coronavirus reported cases that has proven to be resistant to vaccines. Therefore, European countries are extending anti-coronavirus measures. Thus, Greece has tightened restrictions until March 16, Germany extended the quarantine regime until March 28 whilst the French government expects to return to "normal life" no earlier than mid-April. Against this background, the struggle for vaccination access is intensifying. The other day, there was an incident that could become a precedent. Italy has banned exporting vaccines to Australia, and justified this by a shortage of drugs in the EU. There were no objections from Brussels. And now 250 thousand doses produced by the Swedish-British company AstraZeneca at an enterprise in the Italian city of Anagni will be redistributed within the EU. The situation with the use of the Russian vaccine Sputnik V in the EU is developing. According to official statements, the European Union is not negotiating the integration of this vaccine into the European COVID-19portfolio of drugs. At the same time, on March 4, the Russian Direct Investment Fund, which filed the application to register Sputnik in Europe back in January, announced that the European Medicines Agency had finally launched an examination procedure. At the same time, Hungary and Slovakia have already approved the use of the Russian vaccine, using the accelerated approval procedures, and will receive 2 million doses each. The Czech Republic has as well asked Russia to start delivering Sputnik V. The situation with the use of the Russian vaccine Sputnik V in the EU is developing. According to official statements, the European Union is not negotiating the integration of this vaccine into the European portfolio of drugs against COVID-19. At the same time, on March 4, the Russian Direct Investment Fund, which filed an application for registration of Sputnik in Europe back in January, announced that the European Medicines Agency had finally launched an examination procedure. At the same time, Hungary and Slovakia have already approved the use of the Russian vaccine, using the accelerated approval procedures, and will receive 2 million doses each. The Czech Republic has also asked Russia to start delivering Sputnik V. On March 2, Moldova finally joined the vaccination process. AstraZeneca vaccine provided by Romania as humanitarian aid is used for immunization. In addition, a consignment of 14,400 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine, distributed through the COVAX platform, has already arrived in Chisinau. Moldova, by the way, became the first country in Europe to receive a vaccine through this mechanism. The issue of the Sputnik V vaccine access on the territory of Moldova is still open. The National Advisory Committee of Immunization Experts recommends the use of all types of vaccines authorized in the countries of their origin, including the Russian one. At the same time, Ala Nemerenco, the presidential health adviser, notes that certain interests stand behind the Russian vaccine registration: there is a desire to make the Sputnik V vaccine fee-based and available only in private medical institutions. Meanwhile, the epidemiological situation in the country is rapidly deteriorating. Yesterday, on March 4, an absolute anti-record was set for the number of new coronavirus cases for the overall pandemic period. Ala Nemerenco, openly stated that the second wave had begun in Moldova and that an increased number of cases is expected in the country in the near future. “The decrease in cases that we had is no longer important today. We have stepped into the second wave, and there will be an exponential growth. The infection rate is 1.19. This is a very bad indicator. This indicator tells us that there will be more infected people in the coming weeks," Nemerenco stressed. The number of people with COVID-19 is increasing. To date, 191,000 people have been diagnosed with coronavirus. Hospitals are struggling to cope with the influx of patients. The number of COVID-19 infected and hospitalized patients has reached record levels. Acting health minister Tatiana Zatic said that "the situation in hospitals is fraught." Almost 11,000 people are treated at home. The number of people in serious condition is constantly increasing. Comparing the last week of February and the first week of March shows that the number of infections has increased by 32%, and the number of deaths - by 31% (4,049 people have already died). Given the dynamics of the situation, the interim prime minister Aureliu Ciocoi said that Moldova is on the verge of a lockdown which he considers to be inevitable.